There are people who simply exude happiness, even in their writing you find a smile. They live life on purpose, and celebrate even the littlest of it’s precious moments. I have just spent the better part of an hour going through AmberLee’s blog Giver’s Log and found myself a new friend. Last mother’s day she wrote this:
“I didn’t fully understand, growing up, what an honor it is to be part of this club of womenhood. Now to join this group who leaves notes in lunches and goes to school board meetings and looks out for neighbors, it’s like a shirt I never thought would fit and am so thrilled to see it does.”
I can relate to that statement. I am not sure I wear the shirt as well as she does, but I think most of us come to a point when we realize what we are doing as mothers, as women, is a remarkable thing. Plus she has a cow and hens. How cool is that?
Giver’s Log is a dream of a resource if you are striving to give more thoughtful gifts. Gifts that say “I really had you in mind when preparing this gift”. You’ll notice in the quote I use the word prepare rather than bought, because she not only give’s suggestions on gifts to buy but also gives ideas on ways to present them. You really should bookmark it with the tag ‘I will never give a generic gift again’.
Her list is fitting…enjoy!
AmberLee Fawson
11 amazing gifts I’ve been given or seen others get.
- Girls’ day with grandma. My M-I-L took my daughter for a whole girls’ day out. Among the day’s activities was stopping by the local produce stand, where the two of them discussed the best way to pick out green beans and such. My little daughter came home feeling loved and more womanly all at once.
- Dinner in the mail. One day I opened my mailbox to find a packet of ready mix for a yummy meal you can get only in Germany. Along with it came a letter. “Hi AmberLee, it’s dad. I’ll be making dinner tonight. Here’s what I’ll need…” I got to have a favorite meal and imagine my dad was there with me in the kitchen.
- A nice-smelling fridge. During my most recent pregnancy, while I was dealing with all the fun of the first trimester, my S-I-L came to spend a whole day with me. She cleaned my house and defumed my fridge, braved the grocery store for me, and left me with a bouquet of pink flowers in my newly-spotless kitchen.
- My own garden. Another S-I-L and I are always bonding over cooking and good food. Last year she drove out to visit and presented me with my own herb garden she’d nurtured from seeds. I have the best S-I-Ls.
- Towels and soap. Some friends had lost their dear grandmother and were trying to host a house full of relatives for the funeral and still find time to grieve. A neighbor appeared at their door with a stack of fluffy bath towels and apothecary jars full of soaps. This turned out to be just the thing, as they had resorted to handing out beach towels trying to keep everyone showered and happy.
- A note for the road. A friend and I had planned to run a race together but crazy schedules and injuries thwarted our plans. On my race day she showed up with a care package and a note for me to open mid-race. The note was hilarious. She also came with her fam and cheered me on. This is the same friend who gave me a whole-house cleaning when I had my baby. I’m not trading her for anything!
- An unexpected thank you. This friend got the coolest gift from her in-laws. One day, for no particular occasion, they asked if they could take her out to dinner. After treating they walked her out to the parking lot where they bestowed her with her very own kitchenaid mixer (something she’d wanted). They said they just wanted to thank her for being such a great mom to their grandkids.
- A self-hewn bookcase. When we first moved to the country we felt a little bewildered about how country things are done. Our amazing neighbor took us under his wing and gave us advice, mowed fields, and chopped wood. Then, when we had our new baby, he and his wife showed up at our door with a shelf for the nursery he’d hewn from a fallen oak tree in their yard. Amazing.
- Treasured recipes. I have an incredible teacher friend. This Christmas, one of her students’ mother gave her their families two most cherished recipes. I can’t think of anything better.
- A week (a whole week!) to read. A friend of mine with twins could never quite find time to read (imagine that). When she went to visit her in-laws, she found her M-I-L had bought her a full series of books, and dared her to read it all in one week, and then proceeded to take care of the kids. My friend took the dare and finished every book. I think they need to start a M-I-L hall of fame in this woman’s honor.
- My own documentary. I had the best job out of college. I helped publish an academic journal with an office full of the raddest people (who were all English nerds like I was). On my last day working there, before I left for Cali, they presented me with a farewell video they’d filmed. It was sweet and hilarious and helped me remember my editing peeps long after I’d moved on.
Thanks for having me, Mother Huddle. It’s an honor to get to make my very own bullet list after being inspired by so many others!
A week to read, oh my. This list is a great reminder that a gift of ones time and service are often the most memorable. Thank you thank you AmberLee for a great list! I always have thoughtful intentions when it comes to gifts, but often don’t put them into action. You’ve given me a little kick in the pants!
Now it’s your turn, and to all our friends reading this via RSS or email click here….this is an official invitation to come and join the conversation!
What is the most amazing gift you have ever been given?
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Twitter
RSS
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
A book full of old family recipes from my husband’s grandmother when we got married tops my list. My husband also wrote a poem for me when I was pregnant that I will treasure forever. I am going straight to the Giver’s Log to find some new ideas!
Have a great day!
Oooo I am hoping for one of these from my hubbs Grandma, hers is actually recipe cards.
Very thought provoking post. I remember when my first child was born my mother-in-law who lived across from us made lunch everyday for me and my husband for about a month,(which was the only cooked meal we ate each day) she also took the baby everyday so I could nap for a while. I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have because I was more worried about being a good wife and mother myself. Looking back it it wasn’t for her I probably would have starved and been more sleep deprived than normal.
What a great article. It’s the little things that we remember the most.
My son in-law had flowers sent to me. the little note he put inside was a sweet reminder of what being a mom and grandmother is all about. I really believe that it came from the heart. They are all dried and I still keep them where I can remember that they were sent with love.
My 80 year old dad makes homemade jams all year long and most of them end up at some one elses house. Even the nurses at his doc. office look forward to his visits because they know he will be carrying jam or jelly for all of them.
We cooked a squash that was way to big for us to eat. (from dads garden) The neighbors enjoyed a large peice with their dinner already cooked and seasoned just right.
Thanks for reminding us It’s the little things that count.
Honestly, I have been given so many, where to start.
My mom is Vonnie above and I am one of the lucky recipients of my grandpa’s preserves. He literally spends all year doing this, just to give them away. And his Chokecherry jam…liquid gold, and the elderberry, he even goes up into the mountains to pick them!
When Aubrey moved from texarkana, we were both pretty much little messes and our husbands conspired for my family to visit in a couple months, that was a great surprise.
My mom came to sit my kids for me last night and cleaned my kitchen…you know all the stuff you don’t clean on a daily basis…that was wonderful.
After my daughter had spent a week in the hospital with surgery my neighbor brought my family dinner every single night for a week. That was a blessing.
My sister’s quilts and handmade goodies, they are a treasure.
oh I really could go on and on…
now I just need to work on reciprocating!
Oh…I wish our hubby’s would do that again!
Grandpa’s hot pickles are our family favorite! They are SO good! Crispy and just a bit spicy…yummy! I also love his veggie trays. Des, you should do a bullet list on him!
I have always had good friends, and sometimes I am the worst friend, so why on earth they hang around is beyond me. One friend in particular helped me in one of my darkest times. We had just moved to our first home, there were no kids my son’s age and the poor little guy was so lonely and so was I. Of course after I wallowed in self-pity for far too long my poor neighbor called a lady who lived down the street. The next day a knock on the door solved all our problems in a very big way! There she stood with two toe-headed little boys, Hunter and Oakey, both my son’s age. She said, “Hi, I’m Krystin, this is Hunter and Oaks. I heard you had a little boy their age who needed some friends. Well, we are here to play. I am going to the grocery store, and you my dear have saved their souls from that nightmare and mine come to think of it. So, I’ll be back in an hour!” That was it. She left. I stood dumbfounded as I stared at these little boys that I suddenly had no names and hollered for Brayden. I mean really, who just drops off their boys with complete strangers and goes to the store? Luck would have it that these little guys played all day and their mother became one of my dearest friends. Later Krystin told me that she just had a “feeling” that everything would be fine and her boys wouldn’t miss her too much :o) Krystin and I don’t see each other as often as we should, but she will ALWAYS be special to me. Her boys and mine are still great friends and they always offer the biggest of hugs when they are over. So, I am grateful for friends, I have so, so many. How lucky am I? Lucky indeed.
I should add that these little guys were in kindergarten. They graduate next year. My how time does fly.
I had never heard that story! It’s a great one! And stay tuned on Grandpa…someone is doing a feature on him ;)!
Mother Huddle, thanks for having me! It was such fun making my own bullet list.
And I am loving these stories of thoughtfulness from everyone. So many little luxuries given. I’m fully inspired. Isn’t it wonderful to have good people?
AmberLee, I can only imagine how much your daughter’s heart smiled with an entire day with grandma. I didn’t grow up near my grandmother [she was in Hawaii, we lived in Texas] and only had the opportunity to see her less than a handful of times in my entire life. Those moments that I did see her — during kindergarten, after graduating high school and again when my dad was sick — are very precious. She spent the entire day with us making cards and crafts.
Months after my son was born, I had to have surgery. My mother-in-law came to help with his care [and my hubby's, too -- he was a momma's boy!] and cleaned our kitchen top to bottom. She even cleaned the grout on our tiletop table!
The little, unexpected things mean the most in life. Really.
this is such a great list. of course i’d expect no less from amberlee. absolutely inspiring. i love the idea to give an ‘experience’. so much more thought goes into preparing gifts like she mentioned. and it’s the thought that counts, right?!
I was overseas for four years, stationed in the Middle East. My best friend sent me letters with newspaper clippings, postcards, Happy Birthday banners in English, Halloween candy, American chocolates in Christmas colors, Easter crap (I LOATHE that plastic grass) and other assorted goodies and such that can only be found in the back aisles of Walmart. I treasured each and every package she sent because it was a taste of home and all the things we took for granted.
I can only imagine how well received that would have been. My mom sent me some things from home when I had moved and I remember thinking they even smelt like home, I loved it.
My husband built our house, almost totally by himself. He worked on it at night after he got home from his office job and every weekend. It took almost 5 years. I love living here. His labor of love brings me so much joy every day.
I am going to print out this comment and paste it on the fridge for my hubby. We have a building lot, and I know that one day when we finally take the plunge he will do a fabulous job and it will be a gift. Thank you for sharing Jeanette.
Not terribly related to this post, but just wanted to thank you for sharing your experiences with time management online over at m.writes. I found the words your wrote ring so true in my head and I thought your advice was very senisble and useful. Thank you! : )
Oh that is so funny you should be popping over here today!!! I was just on your blog admiring your fingerless gloves. Wish I could knit.
Thank you so much for taking the time to come say hi, and you are very welcome!
This is a great list. The one about towels and soap reminded me of this summer when my grandma died. Someone came by with loads of paper goods (plates, cups, napkins, platic ware) it was the perfect gift.
This was such a fantastic list and post!
What a great list! I love the great smelling fridge. That is so thoughtful. Thanks Destri and Amberlee!
I love this list, I love AmberLee, and I love getting… er, giving gifts. :) The best gift I ever got? My uncle gave me my first bike when I was eight. My dad was out of the picture, and we didn’t have much money. He wanted to make sure I had a bike to ride around the neighborhood with my friends. I still remember when I saw it for the first time. Pink, covered in bows, almost glowing… it was perfect.
My brother’s friendship. The single best ‘gift’ is being friends with this self-proclaimed ‘charming ass’, with the tough exterior and the generous heart. He has given me many gifts, but his friendship is the one I appreciate most.
And no, I’m not ignoring my husband or son. But somehow, it’s different with siblings. There is no requirement that you must be friends with your siblings once you reach adulthood, and when you can it’s delightful!